There had never been a day when she took a large step in her life and her family hadn’t been there.That was her fault. She’d said her goodbyes to everyone and now she sat in the small municipal airport waiting to board the plane her grandfather had sent for her.She had never felt so empty and alone.From the corner of her eye, she saw a man walking right toward her. She closed her eyes and took a breath. In the letter, she’d asked Pete to see her off and to hold her ring until she got back. This was going to be the hardest goodbye of them all.When she felt him standing just inches from her, she opened her eyes and looked up.“I did not mean to interrupt. You look as though you were in prayer,” the man said, his French accent thick. “Are you Avery Keller?”The disappointment, that the man wasn't Pete, dropped into her belly.“Yes.”He held out his hand. “I am Marcus Bravard. I have come to escort you.”Avery shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”“If you are ready…”“Not yet.”Marcus’s eyes narrowed quickly then retracted to fit his smile.
